Internal combustion engine



. Feb. 17, 1942. T. a. CONCANNON 2,213,625- INTERNAL comausnou ENGINE Filed Sept. 23,1939 4 sheets-sheet 1 2 INVENTORL 77100205 6. [mean/ram 2+ t 4 TTORNE Y I BY Feb. 17, 1942. -r. a. CONC ANNON 2,273,625 INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Sept. 23, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 m VENTOR A TTORNE Y I \V Thomas G (once/man.

llllllllllfll Feb. 17, 1942. T. G. CONCANNON INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 23, 1939 m RM Y m m C Em M W N m 4 r a 0 I I m Y B .861 6 3 u Feb. 17, 1942. -r. a. CONCANNON 2,273,625

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Sept. 23. 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 [N VEN TOR Thomas 6? Carma/man.

A TTORNEY wherein Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through an entuting a power cylinder 3,.

suitable fastening devices 3.

Patented Feb. 1 7, 1942 ems:

INTERNAL COMBUSTION FNGIN Thomas G. Concannon, Emporla, Kane.

Application September 23, 1939, Serial No. 296,273

13 Claims.

2 This inventionrelates to internal-combustion 4 engines, more particularly to those of the rotary type, and hasfor its principal object to provide anengine'of this character that is of simple con- ;gstruction, and capable of economic operation.

I ibther objects of the invention are to provide]: -an.int'ernal- "combustion engine free of recipro-f c'atorypa'rts'; to providea rotary engine with rotary valves; to provide arotary engine with 'a directly intercoupled rotary compressor unit for supplying the power unit: toprovide improved {cylinder has anannular combustion chamber? 1 of torus shape and having intersection withjthe rotor chamber. The terminal edges of the sections 3 and l terminate in' a flange I to secure ing'from the wall i3 is an annular web 23 of pressure sealing elements for the respective ro-. tary parts of theengine; and to provide for pressure lubrication of-the contacting surfaces and for expanding thesealing elements.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the inventiomI have provided improved details- 2 1' of structure. the preferred form of which is ilaccompanying drawings,

lustrated in I the gine embodying the features of the present invention, the section being taken on the line l--l ofFig.2..

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section through the power unit of the engine on the line 3-4 of Fig.

Fig. 5 is, an enlarged sectionon the line 5-5 -of,Fig.3. ,/Fig. 6 is a cross-section through the engin taken at a point intermediate the power and compressor units, and particularly illustrating one of the rotary fuel control valves.

Fig. I is a similar section illustrating the fuel inletports of the compression unit..

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view, partly in section, of one of the rotors, showing the method of mounting the piston elements, the sealing. rings of the rotor being shown in spaced relation.

Referring more in detail I designates a rotary eng ing 2 consisting of mating sections 3-4 constiand 3- -l constituting the compression cylinder 3. The sections 3-4 are of arcuate form; and secured together by In designates a disk-like wall which cooperates with a spaced cover plate II to form a rotor chamber II. The periphery of the wall ID has a shoulder portion 13 to engage the sections 3 and 4.

to the drawings: j me including a hous-j" operating with a similar the plate I I.

and- 4 have annular ofisets l3 and I] to receive rotor packing rings l8-i9, later described. The wall I3 and cover plate it pass the power shaft 23 therethrough. Projectlarger diameter than the shaft to'form an annularrecess 24 for receiving packingyelements later described. Connected with the web 23 is a wall extending, parallel with the wallportion l0. Projecting laterally from the innei i'face oi the sections 3 and is an annularfrib 23 co- .rib 21 ona connecting ring section 28 to form a valve chamber 23. The section 23 also includes-spaced wall portions 33 and 30' connected by anagial web 3|, similar to the web 23, and their outer jperipheries are conriected by a circular web 32,:the wall 30 cooprating with the wall 23 tofform the side walls ofthe valve chamber. v.

The sections 3 and I have spaced, disk-like walls 33 and "set therein to form {rotor chamber 35 therebetween, and, which rminates at the periphery in an annular piston chamber 33 in the sections 3 and I which is also of torus" shape. Connected with the wall portions 33 and 34 are diskelike walls 39 and 40, as shown in Fig. 1. The inner edge of the sections 6 and I has an annular rib ll cooperating with a similar rib 32 on the wall'lfl' of the section 38 to form a valve nected by. a hub portion 44 of slightly larger dimeter than the shaft. The wall34.is likewise connected withthe wall 40 by a hub portion 35 conforming in diameter to the hub portions 23 and 3| previously described, and which is of! sufficientlyglarge diameter to form a packing retaining chamber 36. The rotor chamber also has The power 56 Carried by the c spaced annular-shoulders 41 and 43 to receive rotor packing rings and 50. The outer periphery of the sectional and I also has a laterally extending annular rib I I, cooperating with a similar rib 52 on a closure plate 53 to form an inlet valve chamber 53. The compression and motor sections are connected with the ring section 28 by ,cap screws "extended through ears 53. The mute and compression sections may be addition ly connected by draw bolts 55' extending through ears 56'.

over plates II and 53 are bear The inner sides of the sections 3 have central openings inf-and 2i of suitable diameter to freely ings 51 and 68 to rotatably journal the power shaft 22. The inner sides of the bearings are recessed, as at 68 and 60, to accommodate sealing rings 6I and 62 that are pressed into sealing contact about the opening 20 of the wall I and a similar opening 63 in the plate 53 by coil springs 64 and 85, the coil springs being sleeved over the power shaft.

Formed in the ribs 26, H and 52 are annular shoulders 66, of larger diameter than the valve chambers, to seat diaphragms 61, 68 and 68 respectively that have their perimetrical edges clamped by the annular ribs of abutting sections so that they are rigidly retained in coaxial alignment with the respective sections of the housing.

Fixed on the shaft 22 by a spline is a disklike rotor 1|, having an annular face 12 cooperating to form the inner side of the piston or combustion chamber I5, the face being concave on the arc of a circle corresponding to the radius r of a rotary back valve later described. The rotor H is of sufllcient width to be freely rotatable between the wall I0 and cover plate II, and has laterally extending tapered flanges 14 on the sides thereof to sealingly engage with bevelled and slightly rounded annular faces of the sealing rings I8 and I8 so as to prevent leakage from the combustion chamber into the rotor chamber. Fixed on the shaft within the rotor chamber 35, by a spline 16, is a similar disk-like rotor 11 and which has laterally extending, inwardly bevelled flanges 18 sealingly engaged by oppositely bevelled faces 18 on sealing rings 48 and 50 previously mentioned. The power shaft is sealed with respect to the openings in the rotors by rings 80 and 8| respectively, as best shown in Fig. l.

Formed in the concave periphery of each rotor, at related points therein, are sockets or seats 82 to receive pistons 83 and 84 respectively, the pistons having cross-sections corresponding to the cross-sections of the respective piston chambers. The pistons have their peripheries grooved, as at 85, to receive piston rings 86 sealingly engaging the walls of the piston chambers. The pistons are retained in their seats by suitable fastening devices extending through openings 81 in the pistons and into threaded sockets 88 of the rotors, see Fig. 8.

Slidably splined on the shaft, within the valve chamber 54, is a disk-valve 88 that is retained in rotary contact with the diaphragm 68 by a spring 80, coiled about the shaft and having its ends bearing against packing ring assemblies 8I and 82 sealingly engaging the hub of the valve disk and the bottom of the recess 46 respectively. The valve plate is provided in the periphery thereof with a port 83 arranged to interconnect a fuel inlet port 84 formed in the diaphragm 68, with a passageway 85 provided in the section 1 and opening into the piston chamber 36 through a port 85 having a bar 85' thereacross to prevent catching of the piston rings. The port 84 registers with a port 86 in a carburetor connection 81, whereby a carbureted mixture is delivered to the compression chamber 36.

Slidably keyed to the shaft 22 and rotatable in the valve chamber 43 is a similar disk valve 88 rotatably engaging the diaphragm plate 68, and which has a port opening 88 therein adapted to interconnect a discharge port I M in the section 6 with a transfer port I02 extending through the housing section 28 into the valve chamber 28.

The valve chamber 28 is divided in two parts by the diaphragm 61 and rotatable in the respective parts thereof, in contact with the respective sides of the diaphragm, are valve disks I03 and I04, having ports I05 and I06 therein adapted to register with the port I02 and an aligning port I01 in the diaphragm 61 and a passageway I08 leading into the combustion chamber II. The valve disks I03 and 88 are yieldingly retained in rotary engagement with the respective diaphragms 61 and 68 by a coil spring I08, having its ends supportingly engaging packing ring assemblies H0 and III, which bear against the hubs of the respective disks. The disk I04 is yieldingly retained against the diaphragm 61 by a similar coil spring II2, bearing against similar packing rings respectively engaging against the hub of the disk and against the wall I0, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The last named valve disk is also sealingly engaged by a ring II3 received in an annular groove H4 and pressed in sealing contact with the disk by a spring element "5 engaged in the bottom of the groove.

Carried by the motor and compressor sections are transversely arranged abutment valve housings H6 and H1 respectively, each including spaced plate portions H8 and H8 arranged at an angle with respect to a vertical plane extending through the axis of the shaft 22, and having the axes thereof located in planes extending through the vertical centers of the respective piston cylinders, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. One of the plate portions of each housing is provided with a peripheral flange I20 to which the other plate portion is connected by suitable fastening devices I2I (Fig. 1). The flanges I20 preferably have grooves I20 fitting annular ribs I20" on the plates I I8 that press against gaskets inset within the grooves, the ribs being sufliciently short to allow metal seating of the plates '8 against the faces of the flanges I 20 when the fastening devices I2I are tightened. The plate portions II8 have axial bearing casings I22 on their outer sides that are integrally connected with the sections 4 and 1 by brackets I23 (Fig. 2). The other plate portions II8 are respectively carried by, and formed integrally with, the sections 3 and 8 respectively. The axes of the plate portions are arranged so that the chambers formed therebetween intersect the respective piston chambers through slots I24 and I25 respectively.

Rotatably mounted in the respective valve chambers are disk-type abutment valves I26 and I21 respectively, having their peripheries I28 contactin'g the concave faces of the respective rotors. The contacting faces are preferably of greater width than the body portion of the disk as shown in Fig. 3. The disks are fixed on shafts I 28 and I30 having floating mounting in the bearing casings of the respective brackets, so that the disks are adapted to move to and from face contact with the rotors but are retained from lateral movement. The shafts I29 and I30 therefore extend through elongated openings I3I and I3I of the bearing casings (Fig. 3), and are yieldingly retained in rotary contact with the plates II8 by coil springs I32 bearing against cups I33, which in turn bear against reversely arranged cups I34 forming bearings for the shafts. The valve disks therefore are retained in yielding contact with their respective housings to prevent leakage about the slots I24 and I35 on the compression sides of the respective piston chambers. The openings I3I and the shaft openings I35 in the cups-I33 are sealed by packing rings I36 and I31 which are retained in packing position by springs I38. The openings I3I' are similarly sealed by packing rings I39 seated by springs I40.

In order to exert yielding pressure of the peripheries of the disks upon the rotors, the outer cups I34 are acted upon by le'vers I4I pivotally mounted within extensions I42 of the bearing casings on pins I43. The free ends of the levers extend over the tops of the cups and are yieldingly pressed thereagainst by adjustable spring tension devices I44. In order that the pistons will pass the respective disks, the disks are provided with slot-like openings I45 and I46 respectively, the slots being of vsufficient length to allow time for the pistons to pass the disk locations. Since the slots are wider than the rotors, it is necessary to provide means for supporting the disks while the portions of the disks having the slots are moving across the piston chambers. This is effected by cam-like lugs I41 on the outer cup I34 which engages an adjustable plate I49 mounted to slide on the inclined surfaces I50 of closure plates II carried by the lower portions of the bearing casings. The wedge-like plates carry studs I52 which project through slotted openings I53' in the plates and are provided with nuts I54 which, when clamped thereagainst, are adapted to retain the adjusting plates in adjusted position.

Located in the wall of the piston chamber, adjacent the fuel inlet port, is a spark-plug I55. Formed in the side wall of the section 4, at the rear side of the abutment valve for the power unit, is an exhaust port I56 having a bridge bar I51 extending thereacross to prevent catching of the piston rings as-the piston passes the port.

The abutment valves are operated in timed relation with the rotors through a driving con nection which is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 2. The driving connections include a gear I50 fixed to the shaft 22 which meshes with bevelled gears I59 and I60 on the ends of radially directed shafts "SI and I62. Fixed to the outer ends of the shafts I6I and I62 are gears I83 and I64 meshing with bevelled gears I65 and I66 on countershafts I61 and I68 which extend horizontally in parallel relation with the shaft 22 and in plane with the axes of the shafts I29 and I30 respectively. The shafts I61 and I66also carry gears I69 and I meshing with gears Ill and I12 on the shafts I29 and I30 respectively (Fi 2).

The sliding surfaces of the rotors with the walls of their respective chambers and the moving surfaces of the packing rings I8--I9 and 4950 are lubricated through a bore I13 in the power shaft 22 and lateral ports I14 and I located in alignment with the respective rotors. The rotors are provided with oil passageways I16 and I11 to fill the vacant spaces between the side walls of the rotor chambers. The rotors are also provided with cross-ports I16 located directly below the sealing ring so as to equalize the oil pressure on the respective sides of the rotors. The oil escapes outwardly between the sides of the rotor and rotor-chamber to collect in the space under the packing rings, the oil exerting sumcient pressure to hold the edges of therings in sealing contact with the bevelled flanges of the rotors. The oil is supplied to the contact surfaces of the rotor flanges 14 and ring faces 15 through radial bores 15' (see Fig. 8). Oil may be supplied in front of the foremost piston rings 86 through ports (not shown) having connection with the passageways no so at to lubricate the walls of the cylinders.

The oil escapes through lead-off pipes I19 and is recirculated. The lead-ofi pipes I19 are preferably provided with suitable pressure control valves for maintaining the required pressure on the packing rings. The lubricating oil thus not only supplies the required lubricant for maintaining the engine at proper temperature, but is also used to effect expansion of the packing rings.

Assuming that the engine is constructed and assembled as described, the operation is as follows:

when the shaft 22 is rotated the engine and compressor rotors, as well as the valves 89, 98,

passage of the compression piston 84.

I03 and I04, rotate as a unit, with the power and compressor abutment valves being timed in proper sequence relative to the rotors so-that the slot-like openings I45 and I46 of the respective power and compressor abutment valves are in position to permit passage of the pistons. The valves 33,98, I03 and I04 are arranged on the shaft 22 so that the ports therein register with the fuel passageways at the proper time. When the compression piston 84 passes the port 95, the port 93 registers with the port 96 leading to the carburetor. At this time the valve I21 is moving in position to close off the compression chamber on the retractive side of the compression piston, so that a fuel charge is drawn into the compression chamber. Simultaneouslywith this action, the head of the piston V is compressing a previously indrawn charge against the valve I21. When the piston 84 approaches the valve, the port 99 in the valve 98 is in position to connect the ports IN and I02. At this time the ports I05 and I06 in the valves I03 and I04 are also in registry with the port I01, so that the fuel charge compressed between the head of the piston and the front plate is discharged through the port IOI, valve port 99, ports I02, I05, I01 and I06, through the passageway I03, and into the combustion cylinder. After transfer of the fuel charge and subsequent closing of the ports I01, I02 and IOI by the valves 93, I03, and I04, the slot-like opening I46 begins to register with the compression chamber, and by the time thepiston reaches the point of the compressor abutment valve, the slot-like opening is in full registry to permit After passage of the piston, the notch is moved out of registry so that the valve is again effective in closing of! the compression chamber. At the time a fuel charge i-: moved through the passage I08, the power abutment valve I26 is closing the combustion chamber on the retractive side of the port, and the retractive side of the piston 83 is passing or has just passed the passageway I08 so that the compressed fuel charge is trapped between the power abutment valve and the retractive end of the piston. By this time the valves I04, I03 and 98 have closed of! communication with the compressor unit. Thetrapped charge is then ignited upon passing of a spark across the terminals of the spark-plug I to effect combustion of the fuel. The burning fuel acts against the retractive head of the piston 33 and effects movement of the rotor 1|. The piston 33 is now moving through the combustion chamber and a previously burnt charge is expelled by the head of the piston through the exhaust port I56. As the head of the piston approaches the power abutment valve, the slot-like opening [45 thereof registers with the combustion chamber so that the piston passes therethrough. Immediately upon passing of the piston, the power abutment valve is effective in thereby providing smooth flow of power.

closing the combustion chamber, completing one cycle of operation. The subsequentcycles operate the power piston in like manner to continue operation of the power shaft so that the enginecontinues under its own power.. Power generated by the engine may be taken from the shaft 22 by any suitable driving connection (not shown).

reciprocatory parts, and that all the moving elements rotate continuously in the same direction The long power stroke of the piston is efiective in obtaining maximum expansion of the combusted fuel so that the engine iseconomical in opera- 4 tion. A power impulse is also effected for each revolution of the power shaft and the spent gases, are exhausted without waste or diluting of 1 8 new charge, thereby giving the advantages of a two-cycle, engine without customary difliculties in scavenging previous fuel charges.

vWhile I have illustrated and described only a single motor and compressor unit, it is obvious that additional units may be provided without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is obvious that the valve mechanism, gears,

and other moving parts,'may operate in lubricant under pressure by providing the shaft with additional 011 outlets into the valve chambers.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters 5-.Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, an annular chamber, a piston in the chamber, a rotor mounting the piston, a disk valve having a piston passageway therein, means movably and rotatably supporting the disk valve in a plane offset in the direction of rotor rotation from a parallel plane extending through the longitudinal axis of the rotor with the peripheral edge thereof in sealing contact with .the rotor and with the axis of rotation at right angles with respect to the axis of the rotor, means yieldedly urging the disk valve in the direction of the rotor to maintain said sealing contact, and means rotating the disk valve in timed relation with the rotor. I s

2. A device of the character described including an annular chamber, a piston in the chamher, a rotor mounting the piston for movement through the chamber, a circular valve having a notch-like opening in the edge thereof, means mounting the valve for rotation transversely of and in a plane ofi'set from the axis of rotation of said rotor, means acting longitudinally of the valve axis for yieldingly retaining the peripheral edge of the valve in contact with the rotor, means supporting said valve when the portion having said notch-like opening is moving across the rotor, and means for operating the valve in timed relation with the rotor, said peripheral edge of the valve being in contact with the rotor across the entire width of the valve.

3. In a device of the character described, an annular chamber, a rotor chamber intersecting said annular chamber, a piston in the annular chamber a rotor. in the rotor chamber mounting the piston for movement through the annular chamber and having outwardly tapering peripheral flanges closing the annular chamber from the rotor chamber, packing rings inset into annular recesses of a; motor chamber on the respective sides of the rotor and having the annular chamber, and means supplying a fluid pressure medium against said rings to enhance seating contact of said wedge-like peripheries with the tapered portions of said flanges.

4. In a device of the character described, a housing having an annular chamber and a slot extending transversely of said chamber offset from a plane passing through, the axis of said annular chamber, a piston in the chamber, a rotor mounting the piston formovement through the chamber, a disk-like valve having a slot-like opening in the edge thereof, means mounting the disk-like valve for rotation through said slotlike opening in the annular chamber about an axis transversely of the rotor, means acting in the axial direction of said disk-like valve for yieldingly retaining the edge of the disk-like valve in sealing contact with the rotor, and means for operating the disk-like valve in timed relation with the rotor.

5. In a device of the character described, an annular chamber, a piston in the chamber, a rotor mounting the piston for movement through the chamber, a disk-like valve having a slot-like opening in the edge thereof, means mounting the disk-like valve for rotation transversely of the axis of rotation of said rotor, means yieldingly retaining the peripheral edge of the disk-like valve in sealing contact with the rotor in the plane of said disk-like valve and offset from a parallel plane extending through the rota tional axis of the rotor, supporting means for said disk-like valve while the slot-like opening thereof is passing across the rotor, and means for operating the disk-like valve in timed relation with the rotor.

6. An engine of the character described intion chamber. a transversely arranged power abutment valve housing having intersection with the combustion chamber and located at a point offset from aplane extending through the axis of the combustion chamber on the side opposite to the direction of rotation with respect to said valve housing, a power abutment valve, means rotatably supporting the power abutment valve in rotary contact with said power valve housing, a piston in the combustion chamber, a rotor supporting the piston, and means in the power abutment valve housing for yieldingly shifting the power abutment valve in the direction of said plane for retaining the power abutment valve in sealing contact with the rotor, said power abutment valve having an opening in the periphery for passing the piston.

7. An engine of the character described including a housing having an annular compression chamber, a transversely arranged compressor abutment valve housing having intersection with the compression chamber and located at a point oiiset from a plane extending through the axis of the compression chamber, a compression abutment valve, means rotatably supporting the compression abutment valve in rotary contact with said valve housing, a piston in the compression chamber, a rotor supporting the piston, and means in the compression abutment valve housing for yieldingly shifting the compression abutment valve in the direction of said plane for retaining the compression abutment valve in sealing contact with the rotor, said compression abutment valve shaving an opening in the periphery for passing the piston.

8. An engine of the character described ineluding a-housing having an annular chamber,- a disk-like valve intersecting the annular chamber, a shaft for the valve, a cup-like member fixed to said shaft, yielding means supporting said cup-like member, andcam means on said cuplike member for supporting said valve against yielding movement during a portion of rotation of said valve.-

9. An engine of the character described including a housing having an annular chamber, a disk-like valve intersecting the annular chamber, a shaft for the valve, a cup-like member fixed to said shaft, yielding means supporting said cup-like member, cam means on said cuplike member for supporting said valve against yielding movement during a portion of rotation of said valve, and wedge means engageabie with the cam means.

10. .In an engine of the character described, a housing having annular combustion and compression chambers, means supplying a fuel to the compression chamber, fuel transfer means connecting the compression and combustion chambers including a diaphragm having fixed support in the housing and provided with a port, a shaft supported in the axis of said chambers and extending through the diaphragm, rotors on the shaft, a piston in each chamber having connection with one of the rotors, valve disks slidably keyed on said shaft and engaging the respective sides of said diaphragm to control fuel transfer through said port, and springs for retaining said disks in sealing contact with the diaphragm.

11. In an engine of the character described, a housing having annular combustion and compression chambers, means supplying a fuel to the compression chamber, fuel transfer means connecting the compression and combustion chambers including a diaphragm having fixed support in the housing and provided with a port, a shaft supported in the axis of said chambers and extending through the diaphragm, rotors on the shaft, a piston in each chamber having connection with one of the rotors, valve disks slidably keyed on said shaft and engaging the respective sides of said diaphragm to control fuel transfer through said port, springs for retaining said disks in sealing contact with the diaphragm, and a sealing ring carried in the housing and having sealing contact with the disk adjacent the combustion chamber.

12. In a device of the character described, an annular chamber, a rotor chamber intersecting said annular chamber, a piston in the annular chamber, a rotor in the rotor chamber mounting the piston for movement through the annular chamber and having outwardly tapering peripheral flanges closing the annular chamber from the rotor chamber, packing rings inset into annular recesses of the rotor chamber on the respective sides of the rotor and having wedge like peripheries engaging the tapering portions of the flanges for sealing the rotor with the annular chamber, and means for supplying a lubricant to said recesses for acting against said packing rings to enhance sealing contact of said wedge-like peripheries with the tapered portions of said flanges and to provide lubrication for the surfaces in said sealing contact.

13. A device of the character described including, an annular chamber, a piston in the chamber, a rotor mounting the piston for move-' ment through the chamber, a circular valve having a notch-like opening in the edge thereof,

means mounting the ,valve for rotation transversely of and in a plane'ofiset from the axis of rotation of said rotor, means acting longitudinally ofthe valve axis for yieldingly retaining the peripheral edge of the valve in contact with the rotor, means supporting said valve when the portion having said notch-like opening is moving across the rotor, and means for operating the valve in timed relation with the rotor.

THOMAS G. CONCANNON. 

